Connector



Feb. 2, 1943. J. A. MESSING 2,309,972

CONNECTOR Filed Aug. l5, 1941 mullmmu",l

INVENTOR l Mse/@ Messi/7,9

ATTORNEY Patented Fete@ 2,

l airfaresentre CDNNEC'GR Application August 15, 1941, Serial. No. 407,065

l Claims.

This application relates to continuous outlet systems and more particularly to systems employing slotted duct having bus bars therein for engagement with contacts of connectors interlocked with and inserted into the duct for engagement with the bus bars thereof, through the slot of the duct. A system of such character is shown in a prior Patent No. 2,170,300 of August 22, 1939, which shows the connector as having laterally projecting contacts which rotate and slide into the duct and against the bus bars when the connector body is rotated, the body during its rotation being pressed against and bearing on the eX- posed face of the duct.

While that construction has been found exn tremely satisfactory, it is now contemplated to provide a somewhat different form of connector, having diiTerent objects in mind.

One of the objects is to provide a connector' which, when manipulated, requires no rotating part to bear or be pressed against and thus scrape .on the exposed face of duct. Such scraping action has a tendency to remove surface coating from the exposed face of the duct and this, is objectionable.

Another object is to provide a connector so formed that the portions thereof which bear and are pressed against the exposed surface oi' the duct do not move relative to the duct during the time the connector is being manipulated to cause the contacts to project themselves into the duct and to engage the bus bars.

Another object is to provide a connector having cams which can be rotated to cause the connector contacts to move into the duct and engage the bus bars with a. rectilinear piercing motion, rather than with the rotating or sliding motion provided by the connectors of the aforesaid patent.

With the foregoing objects in mind, the connector herein disclosed was developed. For an understanding of that connector,

Reference should be had to the appendeddrawing, and to the speciiicaton which follows:

In the drawing,

Fig. 1 shows the novel form of connector with its contacts inthe position where they do not make electrical contact with the duct bus bars.

Fig. 2 is a similar View, but showing the connector contacts in electrical contact with the duct bus bars.

Fig. 3 is an exploded view of the connector. Fig. 4 shows the interior surface of a plate of the connector.

Fig. 5 shows theA novel form of connector, pictorially. r

as by means Vof screws il threading into tapped holes it of the plate. A hole i9 of the plate pern mits the free ends of the contacts l2, hooked as indicated, and somewhat narrowed and sharpened to engage and bite into the bus bars 9 of the duct, to project beyond the plate. I

The body recesses 2l in which are disposed the spring loops i3, open to the exterior of the body through. prong ways or slots 22, which permit 4prongs 23 of a cord cap 2t, forming terminals of branch conductors, to enter the body l l and make electrical connection with the spring loops i3 and the contacts l2, the prongs directly engaging both the spring loops and the contacts. The parts may be so designed that prongs 23 press tightly against the contacts to hold them in tight engagement with the bus bars, or loosely engage the contacts so as not to have such function, either alternative design being used, as desired.

The hooked portions 20 of the contacts l2 proiected through the hole i9 of the plate i6 to clear such hole enter the duct when a connector is associated with the duct. The body ll has a pilot portion 25 between which are located the contact hooked portions 20; portion 25 projects through the hole it so as to abut the liner 3 of the duct to form an abutment and bearing for the connector on the duct during rotation -oi the shell on the body for purposes later to be described. Pilot portion 25 helps locate the connector with respect to the duct and is engaged by the sides of the slot to be non=rotatable in the duct. The contacts have their edges loosely engaging the opposed tace ing surfaces 25 ofthe body portions it, for guiding. Near the ends of the camtracks or slots it of the plate i6, which deilne the circuit closing posi-- tions ofthe lugs it, of the contacts l2, are snap lock humps 2 which snap over the lugs as the cams move to the contact separating .position for snap locking the contacts in engagement with the bus hars.

it 'will be observed that 'when a connector is associated with a duct, with the contacts ,i2 in the position shown in Fig. 1 and with the lugs I4 of the contacts in those ends of the cam tracks remote from the humps 21, and with portions 25 of the body bearing against the duct liner 8, subsequent rotation of the shell i0, journaled on the body .l l, and with it rotation of the plate i6 will cause thecam tracks or slots l to cam the lugs I4 of the contacts so that these move rectilinearly, as humps 21 of the cam slots move towards them, thus moving the contacts rectilinearly to the separated position of Fig. 2, where they ap proach the bus bars 9 of the duct to pierce and engage them. Continued movem'ent of the shell to its nal position will cause the humps 21 of the slots I5 to snap over the lugs I4 of the contacts so that as the contacts are moved to the bus bars they will be snap locked and held in engagement with the bus bars.

It` will be observed that when the connector is applied to a duct, the pilot portion 2.5 locates the connector properly with respect to the slot of the duct to form a stationary bearing for the connector whose rotatable part or shell rotates with respect to the stationary bearing part to cause the contacts to project themselves into the duct and against the bus bars with. a rectilinear piercing motion. 'Because the stationary bearing part does not rotate during manipulation of the connector, there is no scraping of exposed faces of the duct and thus no possibility of removing surface coating from the duct. The rotated parts journal on the stationary bearing part rather than on the-duct. Thus, any part which presses against the duct, remains stationary, and any part which rotates does not bear or press against the duct.

During the association of a connector with the duct, anddurlng the rotation of the shell to or from the positions of Figs. 1 and 2, no part of the connector will scrape the exposed surface of the duct. This is of advantage because most often the exposed surfaces of the duct are painted or coated with decorative coating and it is not considered desirable to scrape the duct because of the danger of scraping the coating of the duct surface. During the movement of the contact hooked portions 20, to and from the positions of Figs. 1 and 2, the hooked portions 20 will not wedge apart the portions of the duct rolled over the bus bars and thus will not open the flanges of the duct to any appreciable extent. This is of advantage inasmuch as the original proportions of the duct, designed for safety, may be maintained.

Now having described the connector disclosed herein, reference should be had to the claims which follow:

1. A connector for a slotted duct of the character described, having bus bars within and at opposite sides thereof, comprising a body formed to enter the duct slot and bear against a wall thereof and be held in position by the sides of the duct slot. contactstrips formed with bus bar engaging or end tip portions, bearing portions pivotally mounting said strips on the body on axes parallel to the run of the duct. and cam lug portions, the strips being so formed that when and formed with cams engaging the cam lug portions of the strips so as to move the tip portions of the strips when the shell is rotated, from their close-together slot entering position to their they are in one position, close together. their far-apart bus engaging position, with the strips being mounted on the body and connected to the shell in such a manner that their tip portions move rectilinearly towards the bus bars, to pierce them, the body providing a bearing for rotation of the shell.

2. A connector for a slotted duct of the character described, having bus bars within and at opposite sides thereof, comprising-a body formed to enter the duct slot and bear against a wall thereof and be held in position by the sides of the duct slot, contact strips formed with bus bar engaging or end tip portions, bearing portions pivotally mounting said strips on the body on axes parallel to the run of the duct, and cam lug portions, the strips being so formed that when they are in one position, close together, their tip portions, with the body, may be entered into the duct slot, so as to be between .the bus bars and the sides of the slot, and when they are in another position, far apart, their tip portions are within the duct, and they engage the bus bars on their opposed facing surfaces, and a shell rotatably mounted on the body, free of the duct, and formed with cams engaging the cam lug portions of the strips so as to move the tip portions of the strips when the shell is rotated, from their close-together slot entering position to their farapart bus engaging position, with the strips being mounted on the body and connected to the shell in such a manner that their tip portions move rectilinearly towards the bus bars, to pierce them,

the body providing a bearing for rotation of the shell, the body being formed with ways permitting branch conductor terminals to enter it and make electrical connection with the strips.

3. A connector for a slotted duct of the character described, having bus bars Within and at opposite sides thereof, comprising a body formed to enter the duct slot and bear against a wall thereof and be held in position by the sides of the duct slot, contacts movably mounted on said body and so formed that when they are in one position, close together, they, with the body, may be entered into the duct slot, so as to be between the bus bars and the sides of the slot, and when they are in another position, far apart, ,they are within theduct, and they engage the bus bars on their opposed facing surfaces, and a shell rotatably mounted on the body, free of 'the duct, and

formed with cams engaging the contacts so as to y move the contacts, when the shell is rotated, from their close-together slot entering position to their farapart bus engaging position, with the contacts being mounted on the body and connected to the shell in such a manner that the contacts move rectilinearly towards the bus bars, to pierce them, the body providing a bearing for rotation of the shell, the shell cams being in the form of camming slots or tracks of the shell formed for receiving parts of the contacts which are thus caused to travel only in the guided paths provided by the cam slots or tracks.

4, A connector for a slotted duct of the character described, having bus bars within and at opposite sides thereof, comprising a body formed to enter the duct slot -and bear against a wall thereof and be held in position by the sides of the ductl slot, contacts movably mounted on said body and so formed that when they are in one position,vclose together, they, with the body, may

be entered into the duct slot, so as to be between the bus bars and the sides of the slot, and when they are in another position, far apart, they are Within theA duct, and they engage the bus bars on their opposed facing surfaces, and a shell rotatably mounted on the body, free of the duct, and formed with cams engaging the contacts so as to move the contacts, when the shell is rotated, from theirvclose-together slot entering position to their far-apart bus engaging position, with the contacts being mounted on the body and connected to the shell in such a manner that the` contacts move rectilinearly towards the bus bars, to pierce them, the body providing a bearing for rotation of the shell, the shell cams being in the form of camming slots or tracks of the shell formed for receiving parts oi' the contacts which are thus caused to travel only in the guided paths provided by the cam slots or tracks, the tracks having snap lock humps over which the contact parts in the tracks snap` as they move to the contact-spread position, for' snap locking the contacts in engagement with the bus bars.

5. A connector for a slotted duct of the character described, having bus bars Within and at opposite sides thereof, comprising a body formed to enter the duct slot and bear against a wall thereof andbe held in position by the sides of the duct slot, contacts movably mounted on said body and so formed that when they are in one position, close together, theywith the body, may be entered into the duct slot, so as to be between the bus bars and the sides of the slot, and when they are in another position, faiapart, they are within the duct, and they engage the bus bars on their opposed facing surfaces, and `a shell rotatably mounted on the body, free of the duct, and formed with cams engaging the con- 'tacts so as to move the contacts, when the shell 'tracks of the shell formed for receiving parts of the contacts which are thus caused to travel only in the guided paths provided by the cam slots or tracks, the body being formed with ways permitting branch conductor terminals to enter it and make electrical connection with the -contacts.

6. A connector for a slotted duct of the character described, having bus bars within and at opposite sides thereof, comprising a body formed a manner that the contacts move rectilinearly towards the bus bars, to pierce them, the body providing `a bearing for rotation of the shell, the shell cams being in the form of camming slots or tracks of the shell formed for receiving parts of the contacts which are thus caused to travel only in the guided paths provided by the cam slots or tracks, the tracks having snap lock humps over which the contact parts in the tracks snap, as they move toy the contact-spread position, for snap locking the contacts in engagement with the bus bars, the body being formed with ways permitting branch conductor terminals to enter it and make electrical connection with the contacts.

7. A connector for a slotted duct of the character described, having bus bars Within and at opposite sides thereof, comprising a body formed to enter the duct slot and bear against a wall thereof and be held in position by the sides of the duct slot, contact strips formed with bus bar engaging or end tip portions, bearing portions pivotally mounting said strips on the body on axes parallel to the run of the duct, and cam lug portions, the strips being so formed that when they are in one position, close together, their -tip portions, with the body, may be entered into the duct slot, so as to be between the bus bars and the sides of the slot, and when they are in another position, far apart, their tip portions are within the duct, and they engage the bus bars on their opposed facing surfaces, and a shell rotatably 'mounted on the body free of the duct, and formed with cams engaging the cam lug portions of the strips so as to move the tip portions of the strips when' the shell is rotated, from their close-together'slot entering position to their far-apart bus engaging position. with the strips being mounted on the body and connected to the shell in such a manner that their tip portions move rectilinearly toto enter the duct slot and bear against a wall a shell rotatably mounted on the body, free of the duct, and formed with cams engaging the contacts so as to move the contacts, when the shell is rotated, from their close-together slot entering position to their far-apart bus engaging position, with the contacts being mounted on the bodyand connected to the shell in such wards the bus bars, to pierce them, the body.

providing a bearing for rotation of the shell, the shell cams being inthe form of camming slots or tracks of the shell formed for receiving the cam lug portions of the contact strips which are thus caused to travel only in the guided paths provided by the cam slots or tracks.'

8. A connector for a slotted duct ofthe char acter described, having bus bars within and at opposite sides thereof, comprising a body formed to enter the duct slot and bear against a Wall thereof and be held in position by the sides of the duct slot,v contact strips formed with bus bar engaging lor end tip portions, bearing portions pivotally mounting said strips on the body on axes parallel to the run of the duct, and cam lug portions, thevstrips being so formed that when they position, far apart, their tip 'portions are within the duct, and they engage the bus bars on their opposed facing surfaces, and a. shell rotatably mounted on the body free of the duct, and formed with cams engaging the cam lug portions of the strips so as to move the tip portions of the strips when the shell is rotated, from their close-together slot entering position to their far-apart bus engaging position, with the strips being mounted on the body and connected to the shell in such a manner that their tip portions move rectilinearly towards the bus bars, to pierce them, the body providing a bearingfor rotation of the shell, the shell cams being in the form of camming slots or tracks of the shell formed for receiving the cam lug portions of the contact strips which are thus caused to travel only in the guided paths provided by the cam slots or tracks, the tracks having snap lock humps over which the /cam lugs in the tracks snap, as they move to the tip-spread position, for snap locking the tips in' engagement with the bus bars.

9. A connector for a slotted duct of the character described, having bus bars within and at opposite sides thereof, comprising a body formed to enter the duct slot and bear against a wall thereof and be held in position by the sides of the duct slot, contact strips formed with bus bar engaging or end tip'portions, bearing' portions pivotally mounting said strips on the body on axes parallel to the run of the duct, and cam lug portions, the strips being so formed that when they are in one position, close together, their tip portions, with the body, may be entered into the duct slot, so as to be between the bus bars and the sides of the slot, and when they are in another position, far apart, their tip portions are within the duct, and they engage the bus bars on their opposed facing surfaces, and a shell rotatably mounted on the body free of the duct, and formed with cams engaging the cam lug portions of the strips so as to move the tip portions of the strips when the shell is rotated, from their close-together slot entering position to their far-apart bus engaging position, with the strips being mounted on the body and connected to the shell in such a manner that their tip portions move rectilinearly towards the bus bars, to pierce them, the body providing a bearing for rotation of the shell, the shell cams being in the form of camming slots or tracks of the shell formed-for receiving the cam lug portions of the contact strips which are thus caused to travel only in the guided paths provided by the cam slots or tracks, the body being formed with Ways permitting branch conductor terminals to enter it and make electrical connection with the strips.

10. A connector for a slotted duct of the character described, having bus bars within and at opposite sides thereof, comprising a body formed to enter the duct slot and bear against a wall thereof and be held in position by the sides of the duct slot, contact strips formed with bus barengaging or end tip portions, bearing portions plvotally mounting said strips on the body on axes parallel to the run of the duct, and cam lug portions, the strips being so formed that when they are in one position, close together, their tip portions, with the body, may be entered into the duct slot, so as to be between the bus bars and the sides of the slot, and when they are in another position, far apart, their tip portions are within the duct, and -they engage the bus bars* on their opposed facing surfaces, and a shell rotatably mounted on the body free of the duct, and formed with cams engaging the cam lug portions of the strips so as to move the tip portions of the strips when the shell is rotated, from their close-together slot entering position to their farapart :bus engaging position, with the strips being mounted on the body and connected to the shell in such a manner that their tip portions move rectilinearly towards the bus bars, to pierce them, the'body providing a bearing for rotation of the shell, the shell cams being in the form of camming slots or tracks of the shell formed for receiving the cam lug portions of the contact strips which' are thus caused to travel only in the guided paths provided by the cam slots or tracks, the tracks having snap lock humps over which the cam lugs in the tracks snap, as they move to the tip-spread position, for snap locking the tips in engagement with the bus bars, the body being formed with ways permitting branch conductor terminals to enter it and make electrical connection with the strips.

JOSEPH A.l MESSING. 

